Page 31 of Kiss Me at Christmas
For a moment he looked a little hurt, and Harriet didn’t like the way it made her stomach twist. But he quickly recovered himself and fitted the mask of self-assurance back over his features.
“Well then, I suppose I’ll see you at the theater tomorrow?” he said.
“I suppose you will. Bring your rubber gloves.”
She turned on her heel and stomped away along the slushy path.Is he still standing there, watching me walk away? I could turn around, but then if he’s looking he’ll know that I was hoping he was still looking. But I really want to know! No. Actually no. I don’t care. He is stroppy, and I have quite enough actual teenagers to deal with. But it would be cool if he was watching me…It was a relief when she finally turned the corner and that particular inner monologue was rendered moot.
Ten
The following afternoon, Harriet wasgathering the things that she would need for the big theater cleanup. Last night she had created—with their permission—a WhatsApp group for her and the famous five called “The Bah Humbugs,” which she thought was inspired, but which had only received a series of groaning memes in the chat. Still, they had all promised to meet her at the theater at half past five, which she counted as a win.
It was almost dark already, cold too, and she could do without spending her Friday evening cleaning, but this was going to be her life for the foreseeable, so she might as well resign herself.
Usually, she would still be at school at this time, trying to catch up on admin or having meetings with parents—the hours of free labor that anyone employed in education had to work to maintain any kind of balance! Ali, kind soul that he was, had forced her to delegate some of her load to other members of the team so that she could leave on time. Still, a niggle of unease squirmed in her stomach.
When her doorbell rang at four fifteen, she was surprised to hear James’s voice crackling through the intercom.
“Hello, Harriet? It’s James. Knight. I think we got offon the wrong foot yesterday. I’d like to clear the air before we get to the theater.”
She froze. Many conflicting emotions buzzed around inside her torso, all of them sending confusing messages to her brain. When she didn’t say anything, he added, “May I come up?”
“Oh. Yes, of course.” She pressed the door release. She couldn’t very well say no when he’d clearly come here as a conciliatory gesture. She didn’t want to appear churlish. Also, it was kind of thrilling to have a handsome man at her door.
“You live above a library,” he said when she opened the door to her apartment. He was holding a poinsettia plant with a red ribbon in one hand and a bag in the other.
“Yes,” she agreed.
“That’s very cool.”
She eyed him to see if he was making fun, but he seemed genuine. “Thank you. I think so too. It’s wonderfully quiet.” She arched an eyebrow.
He smirked. “I’m sure it is.” He held out the bag to her. “You left this at my apartment.”
Folded neatly inside was her third-favorite cardigan.Welcome home. She smiled.
“And this”—he held out the plant—“is a peace offering.”
“Thank you. That’s very kind of you.” She placed it on the console table. It looked rather lovely with its crimson petals and dark green foliage.
Dammit, he’s like good cop/bad cop all in one package!
“Now I think it’s customary for you to apologize too?” he said.
“Too? You gave me a plant, you didn’t apologize.”
Her phone rang; she looked down and then back up at James. “Sorry, it’s the parent of one of my students, I have to take this. Come in.” She invited him into her hallway and slipped into the sitting room, closing the door behind her to take the call. Five minutes later, she came back into the hall.
“Sorry, where were we?”
“I can’t remember.”
“Is that what you’re wearing?” She eyed his suit.
He looked down at his suit as though seeing it for the first time. “I came straight from the office.”
“Are you planning a more directorial approach to cleaning up the theater?”
“Are you always this rude to people who bring you gifts?”
